Railway car ladder



14, 1945- J. K. TULLY ETAL' 2,382,370

I RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March 8, 194l a Sheets-Sheet W- 1945- K.TULLY ETAL 2,382,370

RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March a, 1941- a Sheets-Sheet s fi- 1945- J. K.TULLY EIIAL 82,3

I RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March a, 1941 8S t 1e ets- -Sheet 4 51: is ri z h H i 4 f I ATTORN Aug. 14, 1945. J. K. TULLY EIAL 2,332,370

RAILWAY 04R LADDER Filed March 8, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 v ATTORNEYS g-1945- TULLY EI'AL 2,382,370

RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March 8, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s 1 J. K. TULLYETAL 2,382,370

' I RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March 8, 1941 8. Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS\l'qmes Jr. Tall BY .5 elf z 'flaerzsera \zasz Z E- Jones ATTORNEY 14}1945 J. TULLY ErAL RAILWAY CAR LADDER Filed March 8, 1941 s Sheets-Sheets w A TORNEYS 7 tier to makethe sleeping accommodations Patented Aug.14, 1945 James K. Tully, Evanston, Leif Andersen, Chicago, and Basil E.Jones, Flossmoor, Ill., assignorsdao The Pullman Company, Chicago, Ill.,acorporation of Illinois f v Application March a, 1941, Serial No.382,306

7Claims. (Cl. 228----f18) A new type of sleeping car known as the coachsleeper has recently been introduced to the travelmg public. This carvis equipped with a plurality of rooms, each of which is'suitablefor'accommodating three or six occupants, depending upon the size of theroom. Each room is provided with aseat and a berth for" each occupant,and additional equipment, including awash basin, furnishing all possibleconveniences to the passengers for both day and night travel. I i j Theberths are arranged intiers of three, and there is ample spacebetween'the berths in each sufiiciently roomy and ideally comfortable.

Suitable means are furnished toclo'se' off each room fromthe remainderof the car, so as toprovide adequate privacy to its occupants to permittheir using the room floorarea for standingroom while they are dressingand undressingandmaking their toilet at bed tim and upon rising in themorning. i I I Access to'the'intermediate and upper berths is madeconvenient by a novel ladder, which is placed in position for use onlywhen the berths are made up for-occupancy and is stored in anout-of-the-way placeduring the daytime when the room is in condition forday use. This ladder forms the subject matterof the present invention.One of the principal objectives in the minds of those designing thecoach sleeper was to arrange the car so that it could comfortablyaccommodate the maximum possibl number of cocupants, both for day andnight travel, giving each occupant adequate room and everythingessentialto assure himof a comfortable trip. Because of the limited spaceavailable in thecar, each room necessarily is made no larger than isabsolutely nec'essaryfor the intended purposes. The'floor space in eachroom is ample for all practicalpurposes, but itis essential that itbekept free from permanent obstructions both in the daytime and atnight,sothat this area can be made available for use by the room occupants;

The ladder, when it is in position to giv access to the upper berths,must not permanently clutter the floor area, but is disposed-to renderthe floor area available,forstanding'room to those who wishtouseit. i

Among the principal objects of the presentin- Vention, then, are thefollowing:

To provide a safe, convenient ladder giving ready access to the' upperberths; and one which is light in weight and easy to handle; to providemeans for supporting the ladder in its position for use; which makes theladder sturdy and yet simple to install and remove, so as not to requiretoo much of the porters time when making the room up for day or nightuse; to provide a ladder assembly which permits the ladder very easilyand safely to be moved out of the way toclear the floor spaceforuse byany of the occupants with means for holding the ladder in thisinoperative position;v and to provide a convenient spacefor storage ofthe ladder without utilizing any of the revenue earning space in thecar.

The above constitutes some of the principal objects and advantages ofthe present invention, others of whichwill become apparent from thefollowing description and the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is airont'elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention showingthe ladder installed in position for giving access to the intermediateand 'upper' berths, and is sh own as it is applied tofai six-occupantroom; a i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of theladder shownapplied to a three-occupant. room;

'ladder supportf Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view in side elevationshowing the lower ladder support with the ladder in. its operativeposition to give access to the upper berths;

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. '7, but showing the ladder swungback against the berths;""

' Fig. 9'is an enlarged detail viewof the bracket supporting theupperedge of the ladder; i

'Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective View of the trunnion at the bottomof the ladder;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket which supportsthe trunnion shown in Fig. 10; i

- Fig. 12 is an' enlarged detail view showing the bottom portion only ofthe ladder against the stop, which helps to support the ladder in itsoperative position;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the stop supporting the loweredge of theladder coach sleeper car showing a room made up for section4888 of the Revised Statutes.

night use with a modified form of the ladder in place for giving accessto the upper berths;

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse sectional view I through the carshowing the ladder stored behind one of the seats;

Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through a portionof the car showing the arrangement of seats in one of the rooms with theroom made up for day use, with the ladder stored behind the sofa;

Fig. 17. is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket which supportsthe ladder behind the sofa;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through one ofthe irooms showing the berths made up for night use, and in broken linesthe upper and intermediate berths;

Fig. ;21 is a detailed view of the top pivot and stopused in conjunctionwith this modified form of ladder;

.Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail view of the extension mechanism on thismodified form, of ladder, the view being taken on the line 22-22 of Fig.

Fig. 23 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2323 of Fig.22;

Fig. 24 is an enlargedvertical sectional view taken through the roomfloor showing the lower pivot for the ladder; and

Fig. 25 is a front elevational view of the top portion of the laddershowing the top pivot and the stop.

This application is a continuation in part of the copending applicationof Peter Parke, James K. Tully, Leif Andersen and Basil E. Jones, SerialNo. 348,670, filed'July 31, 1940.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are selected for thepurpose of complying with As shown, the ladder is used in conjuctionwith berths arranged in tiers of three, but, obviously,it can be used inany other arrangement of berthsv in which there is at least one berth ata' level high enough to require the use of a ladder. Obviously, manymodifications may be made in the embodiments disclosed herein Withoutdeparting from the scope of the presentinvention. I i

The ladder forming the subject matter of the present invention is sturdywhen in position for use and is very conveniently located to make theascent and descent to and from the upper and intermediate berths safeand easy. This ladder is in place for use throughout the 'entire night,so as not to require the services of the porter in the event an occupantof an upper or intermediate berth wishes to descend, and it is soarranged that it can be moved readily out of the way of those personsusing the floor area in the room. In the daytime, the ladder isconveniently stored in an outwf-the-way place behind one of the seats.

For the purpose of illustrating the ladder as it is employed in a coachsleeper, enough of the car with its equipment is shown to bring out therelationship between the ladder and the car equipment.

The preferred form of the ladder forming the subject matter of thepresent invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive. Referringparticularly to Fig. 1, the ladder is generally indicated at I29, andcomprises a pair of spaced side pieces I30 and I3I connected by aplurality of vertically arranged rungs or steps I32. In Fig. 1, theladder is shown applied to a six-occupancy room in which are oppositelydisposed lower, intermediate and upper berths 81, 89,'and 88,respectively, between which the ladder I29 is mounted.

vThe lower berth 81 is a convertible sofa comprising a seat portion I28and a back or berth portion 239, the former of which, when in itshorizontal positionshown in Fig, 1, supports a mattress (not shown) andforms the berth.

At the lower and upper ends of the side piece I3I of the ladder I29 arefulcrums I33 and I34, which are horizontally offset from each other andabout which the ladder pivots from an inclined operative positionshownin Fig. 1 to an inoperative position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3.Stops, generally indicated at I35 and I36 at the top and bottom,respectively, of the side piece I30, help support the ladderin itsoperative position.

The lowerfulcrum I33 (Figs. 1, 10, and 11) comprises a female bracketI31 mounted on the seat portion I28 of the lower berth or sofa 81 and amale portion or trunnion member I38 secured to the bottom of the ladderat the lower end of the ladder side pieceI 3|.

The male portion I38 comprises an angle member I39 below which projectsa boss I40, which is adapted to fit into the female slot I4I of thefemale bracket I31. A pair of lugs I42 extend radially outwardly fromthe sides of the boss I40.

'Ihefemale bracket I31 comprises a horizontal portion I43 and avprojection I44 providing the female slot MI. The upper surface I45surrounding the female slot MI is inclined from the horizontal, as bestshown in Fig. 11, and a pair of radially disposed indentations I46 areprovided in this inclined surface I45. These indentations are arrangedto receive the lugs I42 when the trunnion member is in place in itsfemale portion and the ladder is swung'back against the berths 81, 89,and 88 to its inoperative position. v I

As best shown in Fig. 7, the lugs I42 are supported on the upperinclined surface I45 when the ladder is in its operative position.During movement of the ladder from the operative position to itsinoperative position shown in Fig. 8 and in broken lines in Fig. 3, thelugs I42 ride on the inclinedsurface I45 until the ladder is swung backagainst the berths, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, in whichposition the lugsl42 are seated in theindentations I46, as best showninFig. 8. In this position, the ladder is held against the berths by thecooperation between the lugs and the indentations.

At the top of theladder adjacent to the side piece I3I is a femalebracket I41(Fig. 1) attached to the outer edge of the upper berth 88 andextending outwardly therefrom. An upper trunnion I48 is secured to theside piece I3I and cooperates with the bracket pivot of the ladder.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 9, the upper female bracket I41com-prises a horizontally extending portion I41, atthe 'rear'edge ofwhich i a flange I49 by which the bracket is secured to thefed-ge ofthe-berth 88, and at the forward end of which is a curved member I50forming a slot I5I. The curved member I50 terminates at I52 in spacedrelation to the end of the horizontal portion I41 of the bracket to I41to form'the upper extends from the end of the horizontal portion I41 ofthe bracket into-the slot I 5I and partially closes the opening I53.This pin I54 passes through an opening in the end I55 of the horizontalprtion I41', of thebracket and is guided by guide members I56 and I51 inthe horizontal portion I41 of the bracket. The pin I 54 has a shank I58of alesser diameter than the pin, about whichis placed a coilcompression spring I59,

which is seated between the guideql51 and a shoulder I60 formed at therear edge of the pin I54. This spring urges the pin I54 outwardly topartially closelthe opening I53 in the slot II, as

shown in Fig. 9. A slot I6I in web I62 of the L horizontal portion I41of the bracket receives a lug I63 projecting downwardly from the pin I54through the slot I6 I so that the travel of the pin I54 is limited bythe restricted travel of the pin I63 inthe slot 'I6I. Pin I63 alsoserves as a release knob (Fig. 1) which can be manipulated by vhand toforcerthe pin. I54: back into the horizontal portion I48 of the bracketI41 against the force of spring I59 to clear the opening I53 in slotI5I. I

- Referring to Fig. 1,.the upper trunnion member I48 fits into thefemale slot I5I of the upper bracket I41, and,- when it is in place, thepin I54 partially closes theopening I53 behind the'trunnion member I48to lock it in place.

The ladder I29. is portable and is installed'only when the berths are.made up for occupancy. When installing the, ladder for use, the lowertrunnion I38 is inserted inthe female bracket I31. The pin I54 in theupper. bracket I41 is forced back to clear the opening I 53 (Figs 9'),and

then the" upper trunnion member I48 is passed through this opening I53into the slot I5I. pin I54 is then allowe d to return to'its normalposition to .partiallyyclose the opening I53 and .lock the trunnionmember I48 inplace. "The lowerberths 86' and 81'. respectively. and theyare aligned with thevbrackets I31 and I41 so that the ladder I26, whenin its operative position, assumes a right angle relationship with thegeneral plane of the berths. 'The upper stopl.I35 is best shown in Fig.4. A rubber bumper I64 is placed on the upper extremity of. theside-piece I30. and itengages the. outer edge of the upper stopl35 toform a cushion between the ladder and the stop. I

The lower stop l36 is best shown inFigs. 1, 5, 12, and 13,, andcomprises a channel shaped member I65 having an end piece I66 (Fig. 13).This member is secured to the lower berth 81. and is so arranged that ahorizontal projection I61 (Fig.

1) of the ladder rests against the end I66 of the member I65. A rubberbumperI68 is mounted onthe ladder, and it engages the end I66. of thstop member I65 to form a cushion,

Referring againv to Fig. .11, as previously explained, the top surfaceI45 of the projection. of the female bracket is inclined. its the ladderis rotated from its operative to its inoperative position, the lugs I 42(Figs. 7 and on the lower trunnion of the ladder ride up this inclinedsurface. The weight of the ladder lowers the lugs I42 into theindentations I46, and when the lugs The are in this position the ladderislocked in' its inoperative position; To unlock the ladder and toreturn it to its operative position, one need merely. grasp the sidepiece I of the ladder and rotateit toward (the stops I and I36. Only aslight force is required to raise thelugs I42 out of the indentationsI46. The inclination of the .top surface I on; the female bracket tendsto I urge the ladder toward its operative position at all times when thelugs I42 are supportedon the inclined surface out of their seatedposition in the indentations I46. I

In a three-occupancy room, there is only one bank of berths and the roomis correspondingly narrower. In this. condition, the ladder when in itsoperative position spans the space between the berths and the oppositeroom partition 84. (Fig. 2) .The ladder is mounted in exactly the samemanner as previously described, but in thisinstance the stops I35 andI36 are mounted directly on the. partition 84.

A modified form of ladder is shown at 353 in.

ered against the top of the ladder in the position shown in dotted lines358 inFig. 20. II I I I The extension member 351 comprises a pair ofrods 359 and 360, connected at thetop by a U- shaped' member 36I havingupwardly extending arms 362 and 363 with'a reinforcing member 364 Iconnecting arms .362 and 363 slightly below their free ends. 88 (Figs.14 and 20) a bracket 365 is secured having an outwardly extendingprojectionfl366 on the end of which is asocket 361 adapted to receivethe free end of (arm 382 of the ladder extension 351. surface ofthesocket 361 toprevent rattling; I

At the lower end of ladder side 355 is a pivot member 368 having adownwardly extendingmale portion 369 adapted to fit intothe femaleportion 310 (Figs. 19 and 24), recessed intothe car floor5l. I I M.

Onthe front edge of the second upper berth (in. this instance,referredto as 88' in Fig; 20)

in the six-occupant room is attached a ladder stop 31I, against whichthe upwardly extending arm 363 ofladder extension 351 rests whenfitheladder is being supported in its operative position The upper end of arm363 may be padded at 330, where it engagesthedadderstop 31I, so as toeliminate noise. 1 Stop-31-I (Fig. 25) is ap plied to the partition wallacross from the 'berths in the case of the three-occupant roomsi Also,

in the, case of the threeoccupant rooms, the ladder extension rod 359is. straight to the end thereof. I I

When the ladder is in position for use, it assumes the position shown'inFig. 14, obstructing the floor area foranyone attempting to use thetoilet facilities. A person desiring to use, the

floor area or the toilet facilities merely rotates the ladder againstthe berths about the socket 361 and pivot point 368 at the top andbottom, respectively, of the ladder, as shown in dotted lines 312 inFig. 18, thereby placing the ladder out of the way. In this manner, theladder may very readily be placed in position for persons desiring toascend or descend from the intermediatebrupper berths, and yet may bemoved out I of Way of p sons desiring to j t floorarea. I I I I I To thefront edge of the upper berth A fiber bushing 361' lines the inner inFigs. 22 and 23.

= 'The adjustable extension member 351 at the top of the ladderisilowered to the dottedline "position 358 (Fig. 20) when there is nofurther use for the ladder and it is to be placed in storage. "Rods 359and 36o-pass through collar members'313 and 313, respectively (Fig, 19),the latter of which are attached to the sides 355 and 354, respectively,of the ladder by brackets 314, best shown in Figs. 20 and 23.

Referring to Fig. 22, the collar member 313 surrounds the rod 359, andadjacent to the lower 'end'of collar 313 is a notch 315. A block 316 isinserted in the hollow rod 359 and is held in placeby a screw 311.Directly below the block 313 a spring 318 is pivoted to the rod 359 at319, so that the spring 313 pivots about a horizontal axis. One arm 380of spring318' extends upwardly and is held by block 316, as best shownThe other arm 38I of spring 318 extends downwardly from the pivot point319, and engages a latch member 382 pivoted at 383to the rod 359. Thelower end of arm 38! of the spring 318 is secured to the latch'm'ember382'. The-latch 382 projects forward at 384 and protrudes beyond theperiphery of rod 359 through a slot 385 in the rod. A fiber bushing,

388' is inserted between the rod 359 and the collar 313 adjacent to thelower end of the collar, and a-similar bushing 38B is placed between therod 359 and the collar 313 adjacent to the top of the-collar. Thesebushings provide a tight fit and prev'entrattling of the ladder parts.Latch 382 locks the extension member 351 in raised position by means ofthe protruding mem her 384 of the latch extending into slot 315 ofthecollar 313.- When it is desired to lower the extension member 351,latch 382 is rotated in a clockwise direction about pivot point 383 byapplying a pressure to. lever 381 on the end ofthe latch, therebyunlocking the extension'member 351 and allowing it to be lowered to thedotted line position 353 shown in Fig. 20. A nut 388 is placed over thelower end of rod 359, so as to limit the upward movement of rod 359 byabutting against-the end of collar 313. A bearing member'389 is providedbetween the lever '38! and the nut 389 at the lower end of the assemblyagainst which latch 382 may bear. I

- A pin 589 (Figs. 20, 22 and 23) passes through a'slot in the collarand in the rod and locks the extension member 351 in its raisedposition. A chain 5" secures the pin 539 to the ladder at 512. A collar313 (Fig. 19), similar to collar 313, is located 'onthe other side ofthe ladder. A plurality of openings 391 (Fig. 20) isplaced in the sides354 and 355 of the ladder to permit the ladder to be more easily graspedand to greatly lighten theweight of the ladder. When the ladder is inplace for use, asshown in solid lines in Fig. 18, the lighting fixtureI0! is adapted to direct a beam of light downward onto the ladder toilluminate it for the occupant. Referring to Figs. and 16, the ladder353 is storedbehind one of the sofas 81. A bracket 518 (Figs. 15-18,inclusive) having a horizontal surface 519 across its top issecured tothe room partition 84 adjacent to the fioor by, means of screws orrivets passing through flanges 580 and 58'! at the top and bottom,respectively, of the bracket 518. The ladder 353 is placed crosswise ofthe car behind the sofa with the ladder rungs extending vertically, andthe lower end of the ladder is supported on the housing l'l5coveringtheheating pipes, and the ladder adjacent to its upper end issupportedon the horizontal surface 519 of the bracket 518. The sofa back239, when in its upright position fastened against the room partition84,'holds the ladder securely against the partition and-preventsrattling thereof.- When it isdesired to-remove the ladder from end ofsaid side piece and the other being stationarily mountedadjacentthereto, a pivot support at the top of said side piece including a maleportion and a female portion, one of said portions being attached tosaid side piece and the other being stationarily mounted adjacentthereto and adjacent to the upper berth, said pivot supports beinghorizontally offset from each other, thereby mounting said side piece inan inclined position, the ladder pivotally swinging about said sidepiece from an inoperative position adjacent to the berth to an operativeposition projecting'at a right angle from the berth, and means limitingthe swinging movement of the other sidepiece for supportin the ladder inoperative position.

'2. Foruse in providing access to and from an upper berth in a'vehicle,a ladder comprising spaced side pieces supporting a plurality of rungs,a pivot support at thebottom of one side piece including a, male portionand a female portion, one of said portions being fixed on the lower endof said side piece and the other being stationarily mounted adjacentthereto, a pivot support at the top "of said side piece including a maleportion and a female portion, one of said portions being attached tosaid side piece and the other being stationarily mounted adjacentthereto and adjacent to the upper berth, the respective portions of eachpivot support being separable from each other whereby the ladder may beremoved, the stationarily mounted portions'of said pivot supports being''horiz'ontally offset from each other whereby said side piece "ismounted in an inclined position, and the ladder pivotally swinging aboutsaid side piece frorrian inoperative position adjacent to the berth toan operative positionprojecting me; right angle from the berth, andmeans limiting the swinging movement of the other side piece forsupporting the latter in operative position. 3. For use in providingaccess to andirom an upper berth in a vehicle, a ladder comprisingspacedside pieces supporting a plurality of rungs, a pivot support atthe bottom of one side piece including a male portion and a femaleportion, one of said portions being fixed onthe lowerend of said sidepiece and the other being stationarily mounted adjacent thereto, a pivotsupport at the top of said side piece including a male portion and afemale portion, one of said portions beingattached to said side pieceand the moved, the stationarily'mounted portions of said pivot supportsbeing horizontally offset from each other whereby said side piece ismounted in an inclined position, and the ladder pivotally swinging aboutsaid side piece from an inoperative position adjacent to the berth to anoperative position projecting at a right angle from the berth, meanslocking the respective portions of each pivot support together, andmeans limiting the swinging movement of the other side piece spaced sidepieces supporting a plurality of rungs and including an extensible andretractible mempiece including a male portion and a female portion, oneof said portions being fixed on the lower end of said side piece and theother being stationarily mounted adjacent thereto, a pivot support atthe top of said side piece including a male portion and a femaleportion, one of said portions being attached to said side piece and theother being stationarily mounted adjacent thereto and adjacent to theupper berth, said pivot supports being horizontally oifset from eachother, thereby mounting said side piece in an inclined position, theladder pivotally swinging about said side piece from an inoperative position adjacent to the berth to an operative position projecting at aright angle from the berth,

means limiting the swinging movement of the other side piece forsupporting the ladder in operative position, and means holding theladder in inoperative position.

5. For use in providing access to and from an upper berth in a vehicle,a ladder comprising spaced side pieces supporting a plurality of rungsand including an extensible and retractible member projecting upwardlyfrom the ladder, a pivot support at the bottom of one sidepiece-including a male portion and a female portion, one of saidportions being fixed on the lower end of said side piece and the otherbeing stationarily mounted adjacent thereto, a pivot support at the topof said side piece including a male portion and a female portion, one ofsaid portions being formed on said member and being thereby attached tosaid side piece and the other being stationarily mounted adjacentthereto and adjacent to the upper berth, said pivot supports beinghorizontally ofiset from each other, thereby mounting said side piece inan inclined position, the ladder pivotally swinging about said sidepiece from an inoperative position adjacent to the berth to an operativeposition projecting at a right angle from the berth, and means limitingthe swinging movement ofthe other side piece for supporting the ladderin operative position, said member being retractible and extensible toengage and disengage the portions of the pivot support at the top of thefirst named side piece whereby the ladder may be mounted and removed.

6. For use in providing access to and from an upper-berth in a vehicle,a ladder comprising female portion, one of said portions being formedber projecting upwardly from the ladder, a pivot support at the bottomof one side piece including i a male portion and a female portion, oneof said portions being fixed on the lower end of said side piece and theother being stationarily mounted adjacent thereto, a, pivot support atthe top of said side piece includinga male portion and a female portion,one of said portions being formed on said member and being therebyattached to said'side piece and the other being stationarily mountedadjacent thereto and adjacent to the upper berth, said pivot supportsbeing horizontally ofiset from each other, thereby mounting saidsidepiece from an inoperative position adjacent tothe berth to an operativeposition projecting at a right angle from the berth, means limiting theswinging movement of the other side piece for supporting the ladder inoperative position, said member being retractible and extensible toengage and disengage the portions of the pivot support at the top of thefirst named side piece whereby the ladder may be mounted and removed,and means latching said member in its position in which the portions ofsaid last named pivot support are engaged for mounting the ladder.

'7. For use in providing access to and from an upper berth in a vehicle,a ladder comprising spaced side pieces supporting a plurality of rungsand including an extensible and retractible member telescopicallymounted on the side pieces and projecting upwardly from the ladder, apivot support at the bottom of one side piece including a male portionand a female portion, one of said portions being fixed on thelower endof said side piece ,and the other being stationarily mounted adjacentthereto, a'pivot support at the top of said side-piece including a maleportion and a inoperative position adjacent to the berth to an operativeposition projecting at a right angle from the berth, means limiting theswinging movement of the other side piece for supporting the ladder inoperative position, said member being retractible and extensible toengage and disengage the portions of the pivot support at the top of thefirst named side piece whereby the ladder may be mounted and removed,and means latching said member in its extended position.

JAlVIES K. 'I'ULLY. LEIF ANDERSEN. BASIL E. JONES.

